Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-09-17
WELLMGTON,s HOME.

| WELLNGTON,S HOME.
1fensessos Of she Duke to Be Seen at the
Apsley House.
London Exchanged
| All visitors to London know the out
ward aspect Of Apsley House, the home
of the Duke of Wellington; severe, yet
stately, fronting the lovely park, with
its unornamented facade. owing all its
grandeur to its ownership and all its
charms to the beauty of its situation.
The uncle Of the present Duke caused
the iron window shutters to be removed,
which were put up by the hero of
Waterloo after the assault on his resi-
dence by the mob, owing to his resist
ance of the passage of the Reform Bill.
They stayed there till the grim old
soldier died; he never would suffer
them to be taken away, preferring
probably to keep them as an outward
and visible sign of the brief nature Of
popular affection, even though he on
whom it was bestowed has saved his
country and blessed her with en- Turing
peace.
Passing the jealousy guarded portals
the visitor enters vast square hall
paved with black and white marble.
The first room shown is a small one on
the right, containing some fine busts in
white marble. Among these is one of
the Duke and very fine one of Jenny
Lind taken when she was young girl.
The great Duke much admired the
young Swedish songstress, and a very
sincere and warm friendship existed be-
tween them. Passing through this
room, we were shown into the Water
loo room, veritable Wellington
| museum, the walls lined with tall glass
frouted presses, the floor occupied with
glass topped cases, and all filled with
relics and trophies of the great deeds
of the original owner of the mansion.
There, ranged in order, were the
Marshal's .batons that were the insignia
of his military rank; the one in solid
gold sent him in exchange for the baton
of Marshal Jourdan captured at the
battle Of Vittoria; another covered with
cloth Of gold, encircled with laurel
branches in emeralds and decorated
with the Russian eagle in diamonds, the
gift of the Emperor Alexander; and
that of the Constable of the Tower,
plain gold shaft surmounted with
crown. There were the orders be-
slowed upon him by the sovereigns of
Europe, stars, crosses, ribbons, with
out end. The Dukes Peninsular
medal and clasp, which he wore in
common with the humblest soldier in
the British army, attracted me far
more than did the blaze of foreign stars
and crosses.
Then, in another case lay the sword
of Napoleon, its jewelled hilt and en-
amelled scabbard contrasting with the
severely simple style of the sword worn
by the Duke at the battle of Waterloo.
There was no lack of diamond-hilted
weapons and scabbards, rich in velvet
or gorgeous in gold and gems; but
amid all the magnifcence the eye in
stinctively sought that plain, unorna-
mented sword, and the field glass in a
shabby leather case that lay beside it.
For the eagle eye of Wellington had
through that glass surveyed the strife
at Waterloo; through the field of it's
vision had swept the tide of battle that
bore with it to destruction the last hope
of Napoleon.
In the presses around the walls were
arranged the magnificent offerings in
plate and porcelain laid at the Dukes
feet by potentates and corporations.
Foremost among these is the vast golc
shield offered by the merchants anc
bankers Of London, the border orna.
mented with scenes from the Dukes
battles, and the center bearing in high
relief a group representing the Duke
surrounded by his generals. The
candelabra to match are over four feet
in height. The silver set of table or.
naments, the gift of the King of Portu-
gal, is bewildering but artistic combi-
nation of statuettes and feathery palm
trees. The Emperor of Austria's gif!
was a dinner set in Sevres porcelain,
each plate exquisitely painted with s;
view of some palace or castle in Europe.
How to Advertise.
Do you like fancy balls? I, for my
part, am excessively. fond of them.
Thus 1 spent delightful evening last
week at the house of the pretty Mar
chloness de NJ. The entertainment